Mother arrested in missing child case; son had drugs in system

The mother of the 3-year-old old boy who went missing from his St. George home on Oct. 18 has been arrested on drug charges and child neglect, police said Friday. The boy, who was found "safe and well" that same day, later tested positive for amphetamines, police said.

Jennifer Rose, 38, was arrested Thursday and faces felony charges of abuse or neglect of a child with a disability, child endangerment, exposing children to controlled substances, and marijuana possession. She also faces a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

The drug charges were enhanced because children were living in the home. On the count of abusing or neglecting a child with a disability, the boy qualifies because of his young age.

Police: Child taken by 'good Samaritan'

Police said they learned about Rose's drug use and unsafe conditions inside the home where the 3-year-old and a 6-year-old sibling lived after investigating the younger child's disappearance.

Rose reported her child as missing on the morning of Oct. 18, saying she had returned home late from a trip to Mesquite the night before and had seen both her children sleeping on the couch, according to documents filed in 5th District Court.

After an extensive search by police, which included calls to the public for help, the child was brought to the police department by a woman who said she was a family friend.

Police did not identify the woman by name during a Friday press conference but called her a "good Samaritan." They said she would not face charges.

Mother's story changed, report says

The woman said she had found the home "thrashed," with drug paraphernalia within reach of the children, according to the report. She left the 6-year-old, who was asleep on the couch, but took the 3-year-old, who was awake.

According to the report, the woman stated she had told Rose "that she would take the kids if she saw drugs around them again."

Rose initially claimed she was apartment shopping in Mesquite when she was robbed and became stranded there when a friend returned to St. George in her vehicle. After investigators filed for her phone records, she admitted to having gone to Nevada to meet a "john" and exchange sex for money, and to purchase drugs. Phone records indicated the drugs had been stolen, causing the delay in Rose's return to St. George, according to the report.

The two children were taken by the Division of Child and Family Services. A subsequent test determined the 3-year-old had amphetamines in his bloodstream.

St. George police Officer Tiffany Atkin said it was unclear where the children would end up.

"Sometimes it takes time to determine what will happen with the child long-term," she said Friday.

Rose made her initial appearance in court Friday, with bail set at $15,000.